FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The Patriots were able to downplay the significance of their defeat at Miami in Week 14 mostly because of the crazy final play it took for the Dolphins to grab the victory in the closing seconds.

But after showing multiple shortcomings in its 17-10 loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday , New England suddenly looks nothing like the dominant force it's been at this point of the season in most years.

The Patriots are still in position to earn their 10th consecutive AFC East title. But with two games left in the regular season, New England (9-5) enters Week 16 as the No. 3 seed in the AFC behind Kansas City and Houston.